Pensions&Investments | Movember moves in at Highland Capital

Seventy people — about half of the Dallas-based alternative investment manager’s employees — joined the team to raise awareness and funds for the Movember Foundation’s work on men’s health issues.

Male team members grew luxurious (for the most part) mustaches throughout November, while women opted for decorative fake mustaches.

The annual Movember event pits teams of mustachioed men from around the world in fundraising based on the hair on their faces.

The Hairy Highlanders placed third in the U.S. team standings with donations of $83,932, well above other participating financial services companies and topping the likes of the AT&T Mustache Masters, and Fossil Fu’s and Carbon Crumb Catchers teams.

Mark Okada, Highland’s chief investment officer and a co-founder, personally raised $71,527 toward the Highland total, placing him at the top of the foundation’s ranking of individual fundraisers in 2016.

“Highland gives away a lot of money, but this is the most fun we have doing it,” Mr. Okada said.

“You turn a corner in the office and come face-to-face with one of our guys and just start laughing your head off because he just looks so bad, but it is for such a good cause,” Mr. Okada stressed.

Donations to the Movember Foundation, which has assets of $10.7 million in the U.S. and is based in Culver City, Calif., can be made on its website.